Clarets moving on up

Last updated : 16 September 2006 By Tony Scholes
Micah Hyde - excellent game in the midfield
Yes, we had to see off some late pressure from the home side but for most of the game we were head and shoulders better than a Stoke side who chose to play Pulisball for ninety minutes, and certainly left me thankful he's never been invited to run any teams at Turf Moor.

What a difference a week can make. Just seven days ago it was all doom and gloom, some fans were almost suicidal, and others were calling for Steve Cotterill's head after a 2-1 home defeat against Colchester. Seven days later and we've seen a brilliant comeback to beat Barnsley 4-2, added another victory at Stoke and we're all looking at the league table again with smiles on our faces.

It's usually good fun going to the Britannia Stadium, simply because with only an odd exception we do tend to win there. Last season's game was our only league defeat to date, but there was something significantly different today, the Windy City wasn't windy and I cannot ever recall being so warm before at the ground on the hill with the big holes in the corners.

You just sensed it might be a good day, the atmosphere was good, and incredibly noisy, even as we approached kick off. That's the away fans by the way, those in the home stands, other than making a few observations towards our manager, were decidedly silent and I don't think even Delilah bothered to turn up today, she must have been stood there laughing at those Stoke fans who did.

Steve Cotterill – yes that is Cotterill, and not Quitterall, named the side probably most of us expected with Gifton Noel-Williams making his first start since Valentine's Day last February at the expense of the injured Alan Mahon. The vacant place on the bench went to John Spicer, his first call up to the first team squad this season.

We probably needed to make a solid start with the Pulisball bombardment expected but that's not just how it went. With just 35 seconds gone we were in front and it was a good goal that involved GNW, Michael Duff and Micah Hyde. And it was Hyde who having had a shot blocked played it in to Andy Gray who made no mistake, placing his shot across the goalkeeper and in at the far post.

Did I say the Burnley fans had been incredibly noisy before kick off? Well you can now add a few more decibels and it was to be like this for virtually the whole game as we turned in yet another good performance on the road.

Stoke had been rocked, and they found that their first tactic of hitting balls up to Mamady Sidibe wasn't working. Now this is where Pulisball struggles, there aren't many other options, and so it was Burnley who continued to play the better and more inventive football.

We were so close to doubling the lead too after winning a free kick but Wade Elliott's effort was knocked out for a corner which came to nothing. It was all so frustrating for Stoke and that frustration showed with one or two poor challenges. I was wondering what a Richard Beeby or a Nigel Miller might have done but referee Foy, who had a reasonable game overall, kept his cards in his pocket.

We defended so well that there was hardly a moment when you thought they might equalise, they didn't trouble us at all, and if another goal was going to come it was always the Clarets who looked the most likely. By half time though it was still 1-0, but a very much deserved 1-0.

Stoke came at us right from the off at the start of the second half and quickly forced Brian Jensen into a good save, but it soon petered out and it was again Burnley who were playing the football, looking the more inventive and the far more likely side to score.

Twice in quick succession we came very close to that second goal. Gifton got a superb flick on to a cross from Steve Jones but Duff just couldn't quite reach it at the far post and the ball went out for a goal kick and in the very next attack Stoke were very fortunate to survive.

This time the cross was a low one, and from Elliott on the right. Gifton's timing was just right as he came in to meet the ball at the far post, but he was fouled by the Stoke defender holding him back and the chance went as the referee ignored the appeals.

You wondered if Stoke would ever mount any sort of response and finally they did in the final few minutes. It would have been a rank injustice had they got a goal, and on two occasions they came close.

Jensen made a brilliant reaction save to keep out one effort and then in stoppage time there was one almighty scramble that ended when the ball was hooked clear by a defender. That was their last chance and the final whistle was greeted with delight on the pitch, in the away stand, and in the technical area by the manager who must enjoy this win more than any other.

The home fans just trooped away, mumbling about how crap it is watching Pulisball, there was hardly a Stokie in the ground by the time the Burnley players came to the fans at the end.

We'll get better games this season, games when both sides want to play the game as it was intended, but right now I don't care, and I've just taken another look at the league table.

It was a good all round team performance, there were no disappointing performances and there were some exceptional individual efforts. Many eyes were on Gifton to see whether Barnsley was a one game wonder. I think it is fair to say his performance today was not his best for Burnley, but definitely his second best. Now please keep doing it.

The defence were awesome against the bullying style we faced, the forwards worked their socks off, the keeper made good saves, and the midfield all played well. It's so unfair on the others to pick out one player but as always I will. It was a tough choice between Johnny Mac, who gave us a faultless display at the back, and Micah Hyde who run the game at times in midfield.

In the end I've gone for Micah, but no matter who anyone else might choose I'd find it hard to disagree with them. They call it a good team performance, and we'd all like a few more of them.

What a difference a week makes!!

The teams were;

Stoke: Steve Simonsen, Andy Griffin, Michael Duberry, Clint Hill, Danny Higginbotham, Luke Chadwick (Adam Rooney 74), Darel Russell, Dave Brammer, Peter Sweeney (Carl Hoefkens 63), Mamady Sidibe, Sammy Bangoura (Martin Paterson 43). Subs not used: Robert Duggan, Anthony Pulis.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Wayne Thomas, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (Frank Sinclair 90), James O'Connor, Micah Hyde, Steve Jones (Chris McCann 87), Andy Gray, Gifton Noel-Williams (Kyle Lafferty 90). Subs not used: Stephen Foster, John Spicer.

Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens).

Attendance: 12,247.